In this episode of the Get Loved Up Podcast, Koya Webb talks to Rachel Ricketts. As a queer and multiracial Black woman, Rachel is no stranger to systemic oppression and the many ways that generations of minoritized people deal with the resulting trauma and fear. Her personal experience, coupled with her extensive background in history, spiritual activism, and advocacy work puts her in a unique position to help people understand their role in perpetuating systemic oppression, and what they can do to help improve the quality of life for humanity as a whole.
Rachel Ricketts (she/her/hers) is a queer, multiracial Black woman. She is a global disruptor, mystic, media consultant and author of the international bestselling book Do Better: Spiritual Activism for Fighting and Healing from White Supremacy. As a racial justice leader, spiritual activist and collective mirror, she supports individuals and organizations heal from internalized oppression, unpack their role in perpetuating white supremacy, and help end global oppression in all forms. She has helped numerous global brands and organizations with racial justice including Google, WeWork and Buzzfeed and was named one of well+good’s 2020 Changemakers.
Rachel’s work has been featured on Good Morning America and Vox, and in the New York Times, People, Forbes, The Atlantic, Elle, Essence and Cosmopolitan. She loves donuts, dancing, disruption and all things metaphysical (ideally all at once).
Learn more at www.rachelricketts.com and @iamrachelricketts and grab a copy of her book from the link below.
HIGHLIGHTS
03:39 We all need to believe that we can do better
06:37 Growing up as a poor person in a wealthy neighborhood
10:51 A pile of black and brown bodies
14:02 COVID-19's effect on your life depends on your privilege
17:09 Change is possible, but we all need to put in the work
19:38 The bare basics of shadow work
22:11 We're all oppressors and oppressed in various ways
25:38 Self Care vs Soul Care
34:43 How is your heart?
37:01 Helping her mother die
47:17 How to effectively deal with loss and grief
54:16 Ways we're addressing the systems of oppression
58:57 Rachel's favorite things
QUOTES
10:44 Rachel: "I don't know what this is, because none of us really do, but I know what's coming. And I literally just envisioned piles of brown and black bodies. I know that this is going to disproportionately impact those already made most marginalized, those already carrying too much of the load, those already ostracized and pushed to the margins of society."
16:05 Rachel: "Things will continue to catch fire until enough of us activate and awaken for long enough for the critical mass to occur for change to happen. I wouldn't be in tis work if I didn't believe that that's possible. I do believe it's possible. But I also believe that we're running out of time and it's actually possible that we've missed the mark."
22:26 Rachel: "I have lots of privilege and as a result, I oppress. I cause harm. I'm a bad person not because I'm trying to, not because I intend to. Just, that's the nature of the game. That's the way that it rolls and so, if I'm not doing my work to be able to withstand that and own that and acknowledge it, then I can't do anything to actually action on it, in a way again that prioritizes and centers those have been most harmed instead of prioritizing and centering me and my feelings about it."
48:43 Rachel: "We hold not only our grief and trauma, but we hold our ancestor's grief and trauma as well. All that unresolved harm and violence, and trauma, and loss."
49:19 Rachel: "Grief is rage, and hopelessness and despair, but it can also be relief and reprieve."
49:25 Rachel: "When my mother died, I was overwhelmed by sadness, make no mistake. And I was also relieved because she didn't want to be in that body anymore and she was in so much pain. And I was so glad that finally she had found the peace she so desperately deserved that she was unable to acquire in this lifetime because of these systems of oppression."
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